Spathogyna, a new genus for Valvata (? Tropidina) fezi Altimira, 1960 from eastern Spain: Another case of pseudohermaphroditism in the Hydrobiidae (Gastropoda)

Abstract

Despite advances in current knowledge on the taxonomy, morphology and biology of the family Hydrobiidae, aspects of anatomy, life cycle, reproduction, dispersal strategies, behaviour and genetics of many species are still poorly known. The goal of this paper is to give a complete description of morphological characters of Valvata (?Tropidina) fezi Altimira, 1960. The combination of anatomical characters of this species, especially the existence of a reduced bursa copulatrix with a long duct, two seminal receptacles, and a penis with a simple lobe, are unique among the European valvatoid Hydrobiidae. Therefore, to accommodate this species, we suggest the introduction of the new genus Spathogyna. In addition, Spathogyna fezi shows two interesting anatomical features: a pseudopenis in female specimens, and the presence of a peculiar structure of unknown function in the propodium of adult specimens.